April 20th, 2018

Just like uncle Stephen, Des scores some Brooklyn cred

Meanwhile Eleanor sets a new land record for brownie consumption

April 19th, 2018

Morning book club

With daycare/preschool closed for inservice, dad starts the morning at the preferred diner. Eleanor appeared much happier when the pancakes and hash browns arrived…

Perusing the musical selection

Des’ pick for the morning was the children’s museum. New smocks for water play meant Ella actually stayed mostly dry.

A perennial favorite-

While Des quickly moved on after dad reminded him what the plastic food was, Eleanor hung around to play with the oven knobs. Feels like this play area represents more of a safety regression than entertainment :/

Of course Des decorated himself as an astronaut.

Des blowing a kiss. Assume he was aware that dad and sister, in the car directly behind him, were joining him on the very same train ride?

Ella’s first train ride, loved it

The family that wrenches together, stays together

Some light dancing before Des began what can only be described as “slow-motion breakdancing”

New scenery during nap time, having framed the painting for mom and dad’s five-year anniversary

April 18th, 2018

Desmond is recasted as lead actor in the sequel of a classicSoap Monster 2

April 16th, 2018

Somewhere there’s a photo of dad being stuck in a similar fashion in his crib

“My llama and this smoothie. That’s all I need.”

Eleanor has reached the “entertained by pouring water” (aka, “water-tainment”) phase with fervor and delight

April 15th, 2018

Long after the kids have finished their own breakfasts, this is what dad eating dad’s breakfast looks like. The script is as follows:

Eleanor: [With doe eyes, silently sign “please”]

Down to business when they’re on the final “fruit” course

Grandma and her two shopping assistants

Napping downstairs while mom and dad’s new bed is delivered upstairs

Meanwhile upstairs, Des sleeps through the removal of the current mattress and box spring (which required mom to use the drill to remove the upstairs handrail) and delivery and set up of the new mattress, bed frame and box spring. He must’ve needed this nap.

Desmond and dad reading what is surely a Star Wars book before bed

April 14th, 2018

Peekaboo and snacks

Sometimes you just need a hug to help wake up

“Tut, tut, looks like snacks”

Just two gals resting after a Saturday afternoon dance party

Testing the new mattress before Des’ first sleepover, brother points to sister’s absolutely criminal behavior of standing on the bed

<3

And now it’s snowing. Again.

Reminiscing about her first spring, Eleanor yearns for another, pondering, “will this winter ever end?” (note the ironic selection of the stuffed snowman in her arm)

Mom is ready for the sleepover with her grilled cheese game dialed up to “serious” mode

Let the wild rumpus begin! Or, let’s all watch Inside Out and watch dad hold back the tears

Liam reading The Lorax quite well, despite the many tongue-twisters

Although Liam eventually tired and tapped uncle David to finish. He too read quite well, despite mom’s heckling about the Lorax sounding a bit too derivative of Sean Connery

Cousins, quietly winding down before bedtime 😉

This moment captures the grand experiment perfectly. While there was some initial chatter between all three of them, it was immediately apparent that Desmond was going to assume the time-honored role of “The Instigator.” He was certainly keyed up (read: overly tired) and excited about his new sleeping buddies. However, the older—and much wiser—cousins knew folks may not be happy about the current noise level and instinctively ducked into sleep-like postures when they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. “Lay down Desmond! Be quiet, you fool, or we’ll all get it!” they seemed to warn in hushed tones. Everyone eventually fell asleep without ever waking up sister in the nearby room. Overall it was a wholly successful first sleepover with Liam and Viv.

April 13th, 2018

Starting off the weekend right with an exciting trip through the car wash. Eleanor’s first! This pretty much sums up her experience: constantly looking over each shoulder, trying to figure out what monster is attacking the car next

Hurray for shorts! And slides.

Just the gang devouring their leftovers from Three Happiness

April 11th, 2018

It’s also been warm enough for some light yard work in the evening. Or as Desmond puts it, “let’s play rake!”

Eleanor learns the mechanics of pushing the wheelbarrow

Oh and she went full Braveheart at daycare today with the markers